§ 12. Mr. Traceyasked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to discuss with the chairman of British Rail progress on contracting out ancillary services on the railways.
§ Mr. RidleyIt has long been British Rail's policy to procure its supplies through competition. I am glad to say that the board has now decided to extend competition to the provision of support services. It has drawn up criteria to establish this competition on fair and equal terms and I will arrange to put copies of the criteria in the library.
§ Mr. TraceyI am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that answer. I should like to concentrate the attention of my right hon. Friend and the chairman of British Rail on catering services on British Rail trains and stations. I believe that they will find a considerable appetite for change among the public.
§ Mr. RidleyMy hon. Friend is right. So far, hardly any catering on the trains, and not all that much on the stations, is let out to competitive tender. The new criteria, which I urge my hon. Friend to study when he obtains his copy from the Library, will give the private sector the rules of the game, showing how the private sector may apply to British Rail to be allowed to bid for contracts to carry out catering—I hope to the general gastronomic satisfaction of all rail passengers.